Ash trays



M. D. VIVOLO July 19, 1955 ASH TRAYS Filed Nov. 25, 1953 INVENTOR Mael U'z'z/oZo Q BY ,n

- v ORNEY 2,713,440 Patented July 19, 1955 ice ASH TRAYS Michael i). Vvelo, New York, N. Y. Application November 25, 1953, Serial No. 394,352 Claims. (Cl. 22u-20.5)

This invention relates to smokers ash receivers, and has for one of its objects the provision of a device of this character which will receive and collect ashes from cigars and cigarettes in an eticient and sanitary manner.

lt is another object of the invention to provide an ash receiver capable of one-handed operation and by means of which a closure plate in the top of the receiver can be opened by one-handed operation, and which will automatically close.

It is another object of the invention to provide a closure means for an ash receiver in the form of a pivotal plate which can be caused to swing to open position by the pressure of the ilnger on a push-button or plunger, and which will be provided with spring means acting to return the plate to its closed position upon cessation of the finger pressure on the push-button.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide an ash receiver of simple construction to effectively receive ashes; which can be easily cleansed of its accumulated contents and which will operate to confine `the ashes and cigarette butts in a closed chamber.

With these objects, and other objects to be hereinafter set forth, in View, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is described,

Fig. l is a top plan view of an ash receiver constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the ash receiver;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View, taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a view of the several parts of the means for causing pivotal movement of the closure plate, the spring being omitted, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view showing the closure-plate moving means.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates generally the body of the ash receiver. The same includes a bottom or tray portion 2, and a top or cover member 3. These parts are fitted together in any suitable manner, as by a telescopic tit; by threads or by a bayonet joint, or are joined in any other manner permitting them to be readily separated by manual operation to enable the bottom or tray portion to be emptied of accumulated ashes and cigarette or cigar butts.

The top or cover member 3 is annular or of ring shape and is thus provided with the central opening 4, through which ashes, cigarette butts, etc., are doposited, to fall into the bottom or tray portion 2 and be held thereby. The central opening 4 of the cover member 3 is normally closed by means of a closure-plate 5, pivotally mounted at the under side of the cover member.

Secured to the under face of the cover member 3 is a tube 6 which is provided at its upper end with an annular iiange 8 through which rivets, screws or other fastening elements 9 are extended to thus fasten the tube 6 to the cover member 3 in a manner to cause the tube to extend vertically downwardly from the under side of the cover member. Fastened to the closure plate 5 is a sleeve or outer tube 13 having a flange 14 at its upper end and by means of which it may be attached to the closure plate 5. The sleeve or outer tube 13 tits on the outside of the tube 6 and is concentric therewith and is freely rotative around the tube 6. The closure plate 5 is confined between the flange 14 and a shoulder 29 provided on the tube 6.

The tube 6 is provided with a closed lower end 11 formed with a central threaded opening 12 adapted to i receive the shank of a screw 17. A washer 16 constituting a bearing for the lower end of the rotative sleeve 13, is disposed between the head of the screw 17 and the lower end of the tube 13.

The push-button or plunger member 18 consists of a rod rounded at its upper end and provided at its lower end with the stud extension 19. A pin 20 extends laterally from the plunger 18 near its lower end, and said pin extends through an elongated Vertical or straight slot 10 formed in the side wall of the tube 6. The pin 20 also extends through a spiral slot 15 formed in the wall of the sleeve or outer tube 13 and which spiral slot crosses the vertical slot 1G. This arrangement is such that when the push-buttonA or plunger 18 is manually depressed, the pin 20 will be forced downwardly in the vertical or straight slot 10 and will act upon the spiral slot 15 in a manner to cause the sleeve 13 and the closure plate 5 carried thereby to be swung pivotally. A slot 7 provided in the side wall of the cover member 3 permits the plate 6 to swing outwardly as shown in the dot-and-dash lines in Fig. l, to thus no longer block the central opening 4.

Located within the tube 6 is a coil spring 25 which is operative below the plunger or push-button 18 in a manner to tend to normally raise the push-button to the position shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5 wherein a part of the same is elevated above the top of the cover member 3 for easy engagement by the finger when it is desired to swing the closure plate to the open position shown in dot-and-dash lines in Fig. l.

From the foregoing, the operation of the improved ash receiver will be readily understood. The normal or closed position of the same is that shown in full lines in Fig. 1, wherein the central opening 4 in the top of the receiver is closed at the bottom by the closure plate 5, and at this time the push-button or plunger 18 has its upper end projecting well above the top of the cover member for easy finger engagement. If ashes are deposited in the tray at this time, the same will fall upon the closure plate 5 and be held thereby. Finger pressure imposed upon the elevated plunger or push-button 18 will depress the same and cause the pin 20 to be moved down in the straight slot 10 and down through the spiral slot 15, causing the tube 13 to resultantly rotate and cause the plate 5 carried thereby to be swung to its open position out through the slot 7.

As the closure plate 5 is pivotally swung to such open position, the ashes resting on its upper face will be wiped ot`r the same by contact with the inner edge of the cover member surrounding the opening 4 and the ashes will fall down into and be captured by the tray or bottom member 2 of the receiver. Upon release of pressure on the push-button or plunger 18, the spring 25, which was depressed by the descent of the plunger 18, will then exert an upward pressure on the plunger and elevate it, at the same time causing the pin Ztl to be moved upwardly through the slots 10 and 15, and thus causing the sleeve 13 to be rotated in a return direction to bring the closure plate 5 back to its closed position.

While it has been suggested that ashes can be deposited in the receiver while the plate 5 is in its closed position,

and said ashes caused to be dropped in the tray or bottom of the receiver by the swing of the plate 5, the device can be used while the plate is held open by keeping a finger down upon the plunger 18. This will enable the ashes to be dropped directly into the bottom or tray portion, after which the release of finger pressure on the plunger 18 will enable the spring 25 to operate to cause the plate 5 to be swung to closed position. Regardless of the manner in which the device is used, it will be apparent that it is capable of simple one-handed operation. The device is cleaned of its contents by the easy removal of the bottom portion or tray of the receiver, and for convenience, the top or cover member 3 can be provided with the depressions 27 or other suitable supports for cigars or cigarettes.

Having described one embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

l. In an ash receiver, an ash-containing chamber and a centrally-apertured cover therefor, a tube secured to and extending downwardly from the cover and located within the body of the ash receiver, a plunger axially movable within the tube, a spring in the tube below the plunger and tending to normally urge the plunger to a raised position in which a portion of the plunger is located above the cover, the plunger having a lateral pin, the tube having a straight slot in which the pin is positioned, a pivoted closure plate adapted to normally close the bottom of the central opening in the cover, a sleeve carried by said closure plate and surrounding the tube and capable of rotary movement around the tube, the sleeve being provided with a spiral slot in which the pin rides to thereby rotate the tube and the closure plate carried thereby when the plunger is manually depressed.

2. An ash receiver having an ash-containing chamber and a centrally-apertured cover therefor, a push-button operable through the cover, a tube secured on the under side of the cover and in which the push-button is guided, a pivoted closure plate adapted to normally close the bottom of the aperture in the cover, a pin on the pushbutton, the tube having a straight slot in which the pin is located, a sleeve carried by the closure plate and surrounding the tube, the sleeve having a spiral slot in its side wall, the pin on the push button being located in and movable through said spiral slot, and spring means tending to normally elevate the push-button in the tube.

3. An ash receiver having a bottom, a centrally apertured top fitting thereon, a pivotal plate carried by the top and normally closing the lower end of the aperture therethrough, an outer sleeve carried by the plate, an inner sleeve mounted on the under side of the cover and over which the outer sleeve is fitted, the inner sleeve having a straight slot, the outer sleeve having a spiral slot, a push-button axially movable in the inner sleeve and having a laterally-extending pin located in both slots, and spring means for normally maintaining the pin at the upper end of both slots while retaining the closure plate in its closed position.

4. An ash receiver having a bottom, a centrally apertured top fitted thereon, a pivoted plate rotatably mounted below the aperture in the top, a push-button vertically movable through the top, a tube secured to the under side of the top and in which the push-button is vertically movable, a spring in said tube operative against the lower end of the push-button to tend to normally elevate the push-button to a raised position, the tube having an elongated vertical slot, a pin extending laterally from the push-button and movable in said slot, a sleeve secured to and extending downwardly from the pivoted plate, said sleeve being rotatable with the plate, said sleeve having a spiral slot in which the pin on the push-button is movable.

5. An ash receiver having a bottom, an annular top fitted thereon, a tube secured to the under side of the top and extending downwardly therefrom, said tube having a shoulder spaced downwardly from the top, a closure plate disposed under said shoulder and rotative on the tube, a sleeve secured to the plate and fitted concentrically on the tube and rotative on the same, a plunger axially movable through the tube, the tube having a vertical slot, a pin on the plunger located in and movable in the slot, the sleeve having a spiral slot, the pin being positioned therein, and a coil spring located in the tube and operative against the lower end of the plunger and tending to raise the plunger and force the pin thereon upwardly toward the top of both slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,251,870 Denzer Jan. 1, 1918 2,102,565 Booth Dec. 14, 1937 2,526,880 Kullman Oct. 24, 1950 2,559,361 Langel July 3, 1951 2,593,142 Harper Apr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 49,232 Switzerland Nov. 25, 1909 

